Hot-swappable no cable touch switch enclosure

Abstract

A system for hot swapping a network switch without disconnecting the network switch connectors is provided. The system disaggregates the switch faceplate network cable connectors from the internal components of the network switch so that the internal switch components may be removed from the switch without disconnecting the switch network cables.

We claim: 
     
       1. A swappable network switch, comprising:
 a switch enclosure having an opening and a plurality of network cable connectors; 
 a switch module removably received in the opening of the switch enclosure, the switch module comprising a module connector, wherein the module further comprises an ASIC chip, comprising optically enabled inputs and outputs configured to interface with the module connector, mounted to an electronic board, input/outputs of the ASIC chip being in signal transmission communication with the module connector; 
 a switch enclosure connector positioned in the switch enclosure and configured to directly connect to the module connector when the switch module is received in the opening of the switch enclosure; and 
 a signal communication link provided between the switch enclosure connector and the plurality of network cable connectors, the signal communication link configured to create a signal communication path between the plurality of network cable connectors and the switch module. 
 
     
     
       2. The swappable network switch of  claim 1 , wherein the module connector and the switch enclosure connector comprise optical connectors. 
     
     
       3. The swappable network switch of  claim 2 , wherein the optical connectors comprise spring-loaded fiber optic couplers having optical fiber faces that are pressed together to provide an optical signal transmission path therethrough when the optical connectors are mated together. 
     
     
       4. The swappable network switch of  claim 1 , wherein the module connector optically engages and is configured to communicate signals therethrough to the switch enclosure connector. 
     
     
       5. A swappable network switch, comprising:
 a switch enclosure having an opening; 
 a switch module removably positioned in the opening; 
 a plurality of network cable connectors positioned on the switch enclosure; 
 a module connector positioned on switch module, wherein the module connector is mounted on a first end of the switch module that is opposite a second end of the switch module that is first inserted into the opening, the first end being positioned near a front side of the switch enclosure when the switch module is received in the opening; and 
 a switch enclosure connector positioned in the switch enclosure and configured to directly engage with the module connector when switch module is received in the opening of the switch enclosure and to communicate signals to the plurality of network cable connectors. 
 
     
     
       6. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , further comprising a signal communication link provided between the switch enclosure connector and the plurality of network cable connectors, the signal communication link configured to create a signal communication path between the plurality of network cable connectors to the switch module. 
     
     
       7. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the switch enclosure connector directly connects to the plurality of network cable connectors, wherein the swappable switch module is removable from the switch enclosure without disconnecting any of the plurality of network cable connectors. 
     
     
       8. The swappable network switch of  claim 7 , wherein directly connected further comprises a spring loaded optical connector in communication with the module connector and the switch enclosure connector without links or optical fiber cabling. 
     
     
       9. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the module further comprises an ASIC chip mounted to an electronic board, input/outputs of the ASIC chip being in signal transmission communication with the module connector. 
     
     
       10. The swappable network switch of  claim 7 , wherein the ASIC chip is an optical ASIC chip outputting optical signals to the module connector. 
     
     
       11. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the module connector and the switch enclosure connector comprise optical connectors. 
     
     
       12. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the module connector electrically or optically engages and is configured to communicate signals therethrough to the switch enclosure connector. 
     
     
       13. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the switch module comprises an electronic ASIC chip generating electric signal outputs. 
     
     
       14. The swappable network switch of  claim 5 , wherein the module connector and the switch enclosure connector are configured to communicate electronic signals. 
     
     
       15. A swappable network switch, comprising:
 a switch enclosure having a module receiving opening; 
 a switch unit removably received through the module receiving opening, wherein the switch module comprises an electronic ASIC chip generating electric signal outputs and the switch enclosure connector is configured to communicate the electric signal outputs; 
 a module connector provided on the switch module; 
 a switch enclosure connector positioned in the switch enclosure at a location configured to directly engage with the module connector when the switch module is received through the module receiving opening; and 
 a signal communication link between the switch enclosure connector and a plurality of network cable connectors positioned on a front side of the switch enclosure. 
 
     
     
       16. The swappable network switch of  claim 15 , wherein the switch unit is removable without removing or disconnecting any data cables in communication with the plurality of network cable connectors. 
     
     
       17. The swappable network switch of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic ASIC chip outputs electrical signals that are communicated to an optical transceiver that converts the electrical signals to optical signals, the optical transceiver being in optical communication with the switch enclosure connector.